Orange Banners

Orange banners cover a wide variety of subjects.

Banners are classified into various categories: Biblical, buildings, Home Rule, miscellaneous, historical, personalities, Reformation, Royalty, troubles, old flags and banners, Williamite, world wars, and industrial (for Belfast Lodges with associations to heavy or skilled industry, e.g. air yard, shipwrights, naval, etc.).

The banner of Killaloo True Blues L.O.L.621    
depicting King William III crossing the Boyne.    

Biblical depictions are fairly popular, emphasising the religious aspect of the Orange Order and the source is often the Old Testament. Examples of Biblical subjects are Moses and the Tablets of Stone, David slaying Goliath, Joshua making a convenant with the People of Israel, Aaron's Rod, Elijah fed by the ravens at the brook Cherith, all Old Testament scripture; and from the New Testament - St. Paul in chains at Rome and The Good Shepherd (as Christ spoke of himself).

Buildings often hold particular significance for a Lodge, often representing an area from which members are drawn, and occasionally used when members working away from their home town form a Lodge elsewhere. Some examples of building depicted on banners are Caledon Castle, Colebrooke House, Martyrs' Memorial Free Presbyterian Church, First Monaghan Presbyterian Church, St. Columb's Cathedral, and Culmore Parish Church. The banner of Bessbrook Star of Hope Temperance L.O.L.927, depicts Derrymore House, where the Act of Union was signed in 1800.

    Derrymore House, Bessbrook
    where the Act of Union was signed in 1800 -
    as depicted on the Banner of Bessbrook Star of Hope
    Temperance L.O.L. 927

The area of Home Rule is particularly interesting as it commemorates the turbulent years surrounding the Third Home Rule Bill which became law just before the outbreak of the First World War, and includes such events as the formation of the Ulster Volunteers and the signing of the Ulster Covenant in 1912. Indeed, one of the Lodges, Ulster Convention, depicts on its banner Sir Edward Carson and Captain James Craig signing the convenant at the City Hall, Belfast on September 28, 1912.

Banners classified as miscellaneous depict a variety of subjects. Some represent Northern Ireland's support of the Union and the link with Britain, such as the British Bulldog or Britannia or even a map of Northern Ireland, representing its integrity and separation from the rest of Ireland.

The historical classification examines the formation of the Orange Order itself after the Battle of the Diamond in 1795. Dan Winter's inn was attacked by a group of Roman Catholic Defenders who were put to flight by a smaller group of Protestants, and Dan Winter's Cottage is depicted on two banners (Diamond Grange and Mealough Old Standard).

Many personalities hold particular place or have close association with Lodges or may be chosen for the contribution to the cause of Ulster in history. Among banner subjects included here are Sir James Craig, Lord Brookeborough, the Earl of Erne, Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson, Sir Edward Carson, Oliver Cromwell, William Johnston of Ballykilbeg, and Sir Winston Churchill.

The Reformation category celebrates the gradual dissatisfaction and split from Roman Catholic doctrine by such reformers as the German, Martin Luther in the 1520's, who laid the basis for further Reformation teachings. Featured on relevant banners are Luther nailing his thesis to the church door at Wittenburg, Luther burning the papal bull against himself, two Protestant martyrs drowned at Wigtown Bay in Scotland, and William Tyndale's Bible.

Royalty have a place on Orange banners, expressing the loyalty which members as British subjects feel towards the throne and monarchy. Subjects are William and Mary's Coronation in 1689, Prince Albert (husband of Queen Victoria), King George VI, and Queen Victoria herself.

The banner of Altnaveigh Memorial L.O.L.37    
(Newry District)    
remembering the massacre of seven Protestants    
by the I.R.A. at Altnaveigh in 1921-22.    

What we refer to as the Troubles have become a regrettable part of Ulster life since 1968 and inevitably some of the events have found their way on to the banners. Quite a number of murdered U.D.R. members were members of the Orange Order, Altnaveigh (Newry District) and Tullyvallen (Newtownhamilton) Lodges depict the massacre of its members by republican groups in 1922 and 1975 respectively.

A separate classification has been given to old flags or banners which are steeped in history. Some associations with the Siege of Derry and one from Lagananny is associated with the skirmish at Dolly's Brae in 1849.

Williamite banners are not surprisingly the most popular and frequently occurring, as the Order takes its name from the Prince of Orange. The most popular subject is William crossing the Boyne and other variations are William and Schomberg at the Boyne, the Battle of Enniskillen, the death of Schomberg, William's escape with wounding only at the Boyne, defence of Derry's Walls, the Battle of Aughrim in 1691, the Mountjoy breaking the boom at Derry, and William leaving Hillsborough Castle on his way to the Boyne.

World Wars are important to the Orange Order, because of the loyalty of Northern Ireland in both wars and the sacrifice of many Ulstermen in the cause of freedom. The Normandy landings are depicted, as are the 36th Ulster Division at the Somme, a tale of heroism now legendary in Ulster.

    The banner of Great Northern True Blues L.O.L.964
    (Sandy Row District)
    depicting the train carrying King Edward VII
    arriving at Finaghy embankment in Belfast.

The industrial classification expresses the association between the Orange Order and the various skills and trades which have played an important part in the economic life of the Province. Various categories of tradesmen have formed themselves into Lodges: The Great Northern True Blues, a Sandy Row Lodge drawn from railway employees, depicts on its banner the train carrying King Edward VII arriving at Finaghy embankment during a visit to Belfast.

The list of Lodge banners is not exhaustive. There are other subjects and new ones may appear. They may be historical or topical and will probably be linked to the history of Northern Ireland or the Reformed Faith.

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